Flo's Recipes

Thursday, February 27, 2014

A
little over a year ago, my decision to lose weight segued into a focus on
healthy eating. Not the Euell Gibbons back-to-nature healthy that insists Grape
Nuts cereal tastes like “wild hickory nuts,” but healthy as in lean meats, vegetables, and
fruits, supplemented by reasonable amounts of whatever the heck I like to eat.

The challenge for me was to find the
tastiest way to prepare those meats, fruits, and vegetables so that I wouldn’t
want to gorge on all the other not-so-healthy things. Spices, herbs, and
condiments helped me meet that challenge.

Let me admit right up front, I’m no
expert in this field. Not by a long shot. Unlike my friend Cheryl, I can’t
taste a spoonful of creamy carrot soup, smack my lips, ponder a minute, and
say, “I think I detect some nutmeg with a dash of mace.” So here are my tips for
those who, like me, are novices in the practice of savory seasoning.

Get
a chart...or an app. A few years ago, I found a spice chart in a Woman’s Day magazine which I refer to a
lot. Although an experienced cook might find it rather basic, it serves my needs.
It tells me which herbs and spices go well with what foods. On the reverse
side, it gives some special blends, a couple of which I keep on hand and use
often. I looked for a similar chart as a give-away for this post, but couldn’t
find one. So, instead, I’ll tell you there’s a free app called Spices (has a
pic of a red chili) that’s very good.

Pay
attention. Start developing a curiosity about what’s flavoring the food you
eat. Take the time to determine what it is you’re tasting...rosemary, basil,
bay leaf? Train yourself to know the flavors of various herbs and spices. And
if you can’t identify them yourself, ask if possible. You’ll be surprised at
how quickly you can start identifying the distinct flavors.

Organize
your spices. Whether you have a rack or an entire cabinet for spices, organize
it (alphabetically) so that you can grab the one you want quickly and so that
you’ll know what you have on hand. Keep it updated. Yeah, I know spices are
expensive and you hate to throw them out, but that jar of anise you’ve had ever
since you got married probably no longer packs much of a punch.

Grow
an herb garden. I talked about this in an earlier post. I don’t have a place to
grow herbs year-round, but in the summer I love having small pots of rosemary,
sage, basil, chives, and thyme growing on my patio. Nothing fancy, but with just
a step out the door, I can have fresh herbs to cook with all summer. (I know
they can be harvested and frozen, but I’ve yet to attempt that.) And the scent!
Even if I’m not cooking, I love to grind a few leaves between my thumb and finger
and inhale deeply.

Experiment.As
far as condiments, we all know the old standbys: mustard, ketchup, and
mayonnaise. But to enhance your flavoring pleasure, experiment. I recently
discovered I LOVE hot sauce with cayenne pepper. Who knew? Now I sprinkle it on
almost everything but fruit or dessert. And I might just try it on fruit one
day. There’s a wonderful tea shop near our house, which also offers specialty
olive oils and vinegars. I’ve developed a fondness for their balsamic vinegar,
and in the summer for a tangy/ sweet combo, I sprinkle it on...don’t laugh (or
gag)...ice cream. And speaking of that good ol’ standby, mayonnaise, try making
your own. I’ll admit I’ve never done it myself, but it’s on my “to do” list.
Once again, Cheryl, the gourmet, flavors ready-made mayonnaise with fresh herbs
to give it a special kick.

Just a few of my favorite condiments. Are relishes
considered condiments? I don't know. But I had to
recommend those little peppadew peppers. If you
like sweet and tangy, try them!

Many months ago, I vowed to be more “helpful”
in my blogging. While I’ve been a little lax with that, this past month I’ve
tried to ratchet it up a notch. Here’s hoping you enjoyed it because, not being
a domestic diva, I’ve just about exhausted my supply of homemaking helpfulness.

Friday, February 21, 2014

I haven't any new writing to offer this week, but it's not because I've been lazy. Well, not completely lazy. I managed to do a little maintenance on my blog. And I contributed guest posts to two other blogs. Pay these sites a visit and take the time to explore. You'll find food for thought as well as food to prepare and enjoy at Oklahoma Women Bloggers and Brandi's Blog.

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

“Wooing is a part of love. I love to
woo. I love to be wooed. I like to say the word, ‘Woo’!” – Miss Piggy, WSJ Magazine, February, 2014.

When I read the above quote from that guru of woo, Miss Piggy, I took a cue from a nearby middle school, which always posts a WOW--Word of the Week--on its marquis. In celebration of Valentine's Day, my WOW is woo.

A search on Dictionary.com clarified
the definition for me. The lead definition says woo is a verb (used with an
object), meaning “to seek the favor, affection, or love of, especially with a
view toward marriage.” The second meaning: “to seek after zealously or
hopefully.”

Most of us would agree wooing is a
good, desirable thing. Agreeing on the best way to woo is another matter.
Although, I have the utmost respect for Miss Piggy, I take some issue with her
wooing technique. Further along in the WSJ
article, she claims, “I once went all the way to the Great Swamp in New Jersey
to track down Kermit...My tricks for seduction are easy; I simply hold Kermie
tenderly in my arms—and don’t let go.” A fine line exists between wooing and
stalking or clinging. I fear it might have been crossed here.

When it comes to
Valentine's Day wooing,
I'm a traditionalist.

The way to woo is tricky because it
is so individualized. For example, on the off-chance my husband asks you,
please inform him I DO NOT want a Big Hunka Love teddy bear for Valentine's.
Ditto for Hoodie-Footie pajamas. I have no space to store a four-foot tall
teddy bear, and I can come up with a zillion better ways to spend a hundred
bucks. Every time I see an ad for those pj’s, I picture myself ripping them
off while in the throes of a hot flash. When it comes to Valentine's Day wooing, I’m a
traditionalist. A nice meal, flowers, a sweet card...an expensive piece of
jewelry. Give me any—or all—of these, and I’m happy. But that’s just me. Perhaps,
for you, “nothing says loving” like being encased like a sausage in pink
polyester.

The guru of woo, Miss Piggy, with the object
of her never-ending pursuit.

While the way to woo is fuzzy, the when is a no-brainer: always. In the aforementioned
definitions, I prefer the second one because it puts no limit, no end-all goal
on wooing. I question some of Miss Piggy’s techniques, but truly, I have to admire a
female who has pursued the same love interest for over thirty years. Would her
seeking have remained as zealous if she and Kermit had married? Can’t say for
sure, but knowing Miss Piggy’s zeal for other areas of her life, I’m going with
the affirmative. (And btw, Kermit, you’re a fool for never having popped the
question!)

When I listed my wooing favs above,
I was joking about the expensive piece of jewelry ...sort of. I really don’t
think wooing has to be expensive, although occasionally it’s nice to splurge if
you can afford it. I consider my friend, Family Law attorney Shel Harrington,
to be another guru of woo. Visit her blog for a beautiful Valentine's day idea. And for some other inexpensive but meaningful ways to pursue
your beloved, visit her blog here.

Let me hear from you. What’s your
favorite way to woo or be wooed? (Please keep it PG.)

Thursday, February 6, 2014

A blog that I enjoy on a regular
basis is www.houzz.com. One
contributor I read consistently is Becky Harris. I like her because she gives
what I call “do-able” suggestions—projects that fall within my range, both
stylistically and monetarily. Her projects are manageable while making a big
impact.

This past week, Becky ran an article
entitled “10 Ways to Set Up Your Kitchen for Healthy Eating.” This intrigued me
because Weight Watchers has a strategy they call “controlling your spaces.” I
wanted to see if Becky had anything to add. She did.

Below is a compilation of
ideas from WW, Becky, and moi, that I
find helpful in controlling my space and my waist.

1.An
Herb Garden – In Becky’s article, she has a picture of a lush herb garden
hanging right on a kitchen wall. It’s a lovely idea if you can do it, but I’ve
tried inside herb gardens in the past and haven’t been too successful. This
isn’t surprising, since growing even a Chia pet inside presents a challenge for
me. But what has worked for me in the summer time is potted herbs on my patio.
I generally have chives, sage, basil, thyme, and rosemary readily available,
and these basic herbs fulfill most of my cooking requirements. Of course, in
the winter, I have to resort to dried herbs and spices. But if you have a green
thumb, I say go for the indoor garden.

2.Fruit
and Veggies on Display – This is one practice I’ve followed faithfully over
the past year, and I attribute much of my weight loss success to it. “Hello, my
name is Dee Dee Chumley, and I’m a nibbler.” Yes, I confess, if it’s sitting
out or it’s handy, I’m going to eat it. So I decided my best strategy for
controlling this urge was to feed it. But I try to feed it healthy food. So
instead of having M&Ms or Cheetos at the ready, I generally have a bowl of
fruit displayed on my kitchen island. My favs include Honeycrisp apples (has to
be Honeycrisp), grapes, bananas, pears, grapes, and Cuties—bushels and bushels
of Cuties. Check out what Becky says about making “still lifes” out of your
fruits and veggies. I did this, and was thrilled with the results.

3.Organization
– Been there, done that! Last fall, I totally organized my cabinets and pantry
so I could stop wasting time and driving myself crazy looking for stuff. I’ve
found that be it rice vinegar or the blender, if I have to stoop and scrounge
for it, I most likely am not going to use it. And this especially goes for the
crockpot. A busy cook’s best friend is the crockpot, and the way I ensured I’d
use it consistently was to make it easily accessible. So far, the organization
efforts in my cabinets and pantry have held. Even my husband has been
cooperative. However, my refrigerator is another story. The two places in my
house that defy organization are my desk and my ‘fridge, and I don’t look for
that to change any time soon. I welcome suggestions.

4.A Tea
Station – Already do this, too. Sorta. Both Bill and I are big hot tea
drinkers in the winter, so I always keep a teapot on the stove—red one in
winter, yellow the rest of the year. We keep a good selection of tea on hand. I don’t keep the tea displayed, but it’s
kept within easy reach in the pantry. And limes and lemons are usually in the
fruit bowl. I also keep honey out on the island, but am in desperate need of a
decorative honey jar.

5. Pretty Dishes – Becky and WW suggest
using smaller plates, but I say use pretty ones. During a move a few years ago,
my mother gave me a collection of dishes. I kept them stored, bringing them out
only for Christmas or Thanksgiving. I finally decided to use them during
the winter. I like them. I like the way food looks in them. I like the way the
table looks when it’s set with them. So even if it’s just Bill and I eating, I
use them. And I generally switch out dish sets to match
my mood and/or the season. Silly? Maybe. But it doesn’t cost a dime more, takes no
extra time, and makes me feel like I’m “dining,” even if I’m eating only a bowl
of oatmeal.

These are the strategies I’ve found
helpful, but visit with Becky for more suggestions. One disclaimer: If you
follow the link, know that my pantry in NO way resembles the one she has
pictured. I’m organized, but I’m not anal.

Welcome

Hello! Thank you for visiting my blog--Focusing on Everyday Grace. Grace is a word with many definitions, ranging from beauty of physical form to the "unmerited favor and love of God." I hope that you will join me as I write about the beautiful, surprising, unexpected, and sometimes even humorous grace to be found in everyday life.